Montana - CHAPTER 60 PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS AND PATROL OFFICERS
PART 3 LICENSING
Mont. Code Anno., § 37-60-303 (2005)
37-60-303 License qualifications.

(1) Except as provided in subsection (7), an applicant for licensure under this chapter is subject to the provisions of this section and shall submit evidence under oath that the applicant:

(a) is at least 18 years of age;

(b) is a citizen of the United States;

(c) has not been convicted in any jurisdiction of any felony or any crime involving moral turpitude or illegal use or possession of a dangerous weapon, for which a full pardon or similar relief has not been granted;

(d) has not been judicially declared incompetent by reason of any mental defect or disease or, if so declared, has been fully restored;

(e) is not suffering from habitual drunkenness or from narcotics addiction or dependence;

(f) is of good moral character; and

(g) has complied with other experience qualifications as may be set by the rules of the board.

(2) In addition to meeting the qualifications in subsection (1), an applicant for licensure as a private security guard shall:

(a) complete the training requirements of a private security guard training program certified by the board and provide, on a form prescribed by the board, written notice of satisfactory completion of the training; and

(b) fulfill other requirements as the board may by rule prescribe.

(3) In addition to meeting the qualifications in subsection (1), each applicant for a license to act as a private investigator shall submit evidence under oath that the applicant:

(a) is at least 21 years of age;

(b) has at least a high school education or the equivalent;

(c) has not been dishonorably discharged from any branch of the United States military service; and

(d) has fulfilled any other requirements as the board may by rule prescribe.

(4) The board may require an applicant to demonstrate by written examination additional qualifications as the board may by rule require.

(5) An applicant who will wear or carry a firearm in performance of the applicant's duties shall submit written notice of satisfactory completion of a firearms training program certified by or satisfactory to the board, as the board may by rule prescribe.

(6) Except for an applicant subject to the provisions of subsection (7), the board shall require a background investigation of each applicant for licensure under this chapter that includes a fingerprint check by the Montana department of justice and the federal bureau of investigation.

(7) (a) A firm, company, association, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, or other entity that intends to engage in business governed by the provisions of this chapter must be incorporated under the laws of this state or qualified to do business within this state and must be licensed by the board.

(b) Individual employees, officers, directors, agents, or other representatives of an entity described in subsection (7)(a) who engage in duties that are subject to the provisions of this part must be licensed pursuant to the requirements of this part.


Mont. Code Anno., § 37-60-304 (2005)
37-60-304 Licenses -- application form and content.

(1) Except as provided in 37-60-303(7), an application for a license must be submitted to the department and accompanied by the application fee set by the board.

(2) An application must be made under oath and must include:

(a) the full name and address of the applicant;

(b) the name under which the applicant intends to do business;

(c) a statement as to the general nature of the business in which the applicant intends to engage;

(d) a statement as to whether the applicant desires to be licensed as a contract security company, a proprietary security organization, a private investigator, or a private security guard;

(e) one recent photograph of the applicant, of a type prescribed by the department, and one classifiable set of the applicant's fingerprints;

(f) a statement of the applicant's age and experience qualifications; and

(g) other information, evidence, statements, or documents as may be prescribed by the rules of the board.

(3) The board shall verify the statements in the application and the applicant's moral character.

(4) The submittal of fingerprints is a prerequisite to the issuance of a license by means of fingerprint checks by the Montana department of justice and the federal bureau of investigation.